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PNG Promoting Effective Public Expenditure Project Conducting Public Expenditure and Facility Surveys in PNG: Reporting back from the field Andrew Mako – NRI Project Manager Colin Wiltshire – ANU Project Manager

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PNG Promoting Effective Public Expenditure Project

Conducting Public Expenditure and Facility Surveys

in PNG:

Reporting back from the field

Andrew Mako – NRI Project Manager

Colin Wiltshire – ANU Project Manager

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INTRODUCTION

• PEPE is made up of two components: – Component 1 – Analyse priorities in the

national budget

– Component 2 – Understanding how the budget is spent to improve service delivery

• Completed expenditure tracking and facility surveys across PNG

• Provide reflections on fieldwork in Gulf Province

• Andrew Mako will provide views on opportunities and challenges in Enga

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EXPENDITURE EFFECTIVENESS

• PNG has experienced a rise in revenue and expenditure over the last decade

• More evidence is needed to understand if public spending increases have made a difference at the service delivery level.

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PEPE SURVEY OBJECTIVES • The Public Expenditure and Service Delivery (PESD) Survey

conducted by NRI / World Bank in 2002.

• The survey covered the same schools and health facilities: – Southern Papua region (Gulf, National Capital District)

– Highlands region (Enga, Eastern Highlands)

– Momase region (West Sepik, Morobe)

– Islands region (West New Britain, East New Britain)

• The reform areas of focus are: – Direct school subsidy payments;

– Direct delivery of text books to schools;

– Health function grants provided to the facility level; and

– Direct delivery of medical supply kits to health centres and aid posts.

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SURVEY METHOD AND PARTICIPANTS

• Key data collected: – school and health facility characteristics

– the amount, timing and sources of funds

– the use of funds and who decides how the money is spent

– interactions with district and provincial inspectors/supervisors

• Participants from primary schools: – Head Teacher, Board of Management, Parent and Citizens (P&C)

– District and Provincial Education Officials.

• Participants from health facilities: – Officer in Charge (OIC) of the facility, Other Health Worker,

– Health Facility User, District and Provincial Health Officials.

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SURVEY IMPLEMENTATION

• Condensed timeframe to assess the new education subsidy

• Completed over a four month period

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HOW REMOTE IS REMOTE IN PNG?

Sandaun Province – Across

Telefomin District

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In West New Britain, survey teams visited remote parts of Kandrian and were chased by pirates in Talasea

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In East New Britain, survey teams didn’t only visit Kokopo District but spent months in Pomio facing rough seas.

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In Morobe Province, survey teams walked for 20 hours straight to get to some of the inland schools

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Some reflections on carrying out the survey in Gulf Province

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CONDUCTING FIELDWORK IN GULF PROVINCE

‘Never Say Die’

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CHALLENGES: GEOGRAPHY

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KEREMA - KIKORI

• Travelling from Kerema to Kikori is very difficult when the airstrip is not operational.

• Dinghy travel is the only option

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DECAYING FACILITIES IN REMOTE AREAS

• The survey team observed a lack of schools and health facilities serving more remote populations

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OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE?

• It was also common across many villages to find unfinished infrastructure projects, under the DSIP program.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

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• Despite the challenges, opportunities for improvement exist.

• Individuals who are determined to ensure basic services persist in their communities

• There were inspiring examples of retired and retrenched teachers and health workers

FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE: ENGA

- Major challenges hindering effective flow of public services (health & education)

- Opportunities at frontline for public service delivery

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MAJOR CHALLENGES AT THE SERVICE DELIVERY FRONTLINE

• Remoteness and isolation from major towns/centres in Enga

• Very poor road conditions to remote facilities

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Incomplete bridges and very remote roads meant there was a lot of walking…

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• This notice was posted on the door of the provincial education office.

• It mentions that all schools in Kandep District were suspended due to tribal fights so a new district had to be selected to survey.

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CHALLENGES WITH ACCESSING FUNDS

• Lengthy and timely processes at provincial and district levels

• Delays spending time especially for rural and remote facilities

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FINANCIAL CHALLENGES • Capacity to manage funds and keep records were variable across schools

• There were often discrepancies between revenue & expenditure

• Community often suspects HT and BOM Chairperson colluding over funding receipt and expenditure

Summary table of Revenue and Expenditure (question from the survey)

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MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE

• Neglect of existing roads, schools and health facilities

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT • Dedicated teachers and health workers

Retired but still dedicated to service

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

• Supporting service deliverers to do their jobs

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

• Engaging with communities that can bring about change and ensure accountable practices.

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IMPROVING ENGAGEMENT WITH CHURCHES

Bringing health and education services to the most remote areas across PNG.

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Next Steps

• We are finalising summary statistics to be

presented at the next PNG Budget Forum.

• Disseminating findings through provinces

surveyed and relevant National Departments

• This should influence public policy, including

national budget allocations

• Second phase of research based on survey

findings and ongoing data analysis.

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